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Mercury Amalgam Use at Private Dental Clinics in Pakistan
By: SDPI
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Team Members: Dr. Mahmood A. Khwaja

Earlier studies carried out at SDPI have indicated alarmingly high levels of mercury vapor in indoor and outdoor air at dental sites, including dental teaching institutions, dental teaching and general hospitals in a few selected main cities of Pakistan. Studies have also indicated lack of adequate information regarding mercury related issues in BDS syllabus/curriculum offered at dental teaching institutions in the country. This study has been undertaken to assess the status of dental mercury amalgam use and practices at private dental clinics in the country and the resulting impacts on health (specially of dental professionals and dental health care workers.

Part 3 –Survey – Private Dental Clinics – Islamabad

Findings of Islamabad survey showed strikinly different trends of opinion (compare to Peshawar & Rawalpindi) among dental professionals offering dental health care service in the federal capital. We are expecting a similar different points of view from the survey work in progress at dental health care clinics in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Islamabad survey was carried out between June 22 – 24, 2015 Private dental clinics survey were carried out in F-sectors (60%) and G-Sectors (40%). Questionnaire based survey was carried out to gather opinion of the dental professionals, regarding mercury dental amalgam use in dentistry. Only qualified medical graduate dental doctors in-charge of the private clinics were interviewed and through questions, mercury dental amalgam use related issued were raised. Among the respondents 17% were females.
Mercury dental amalgam is no more used at 88% of the clinics visited (only 12 % clinics still continue to use it). 80% respondents view was that the present syllabus/curriculum offered at dental teaching institutions, lacked information regarding occupational health & safety, mercury contaminated waste management, non-mercury based alternatives material and supported the present curriculum review & revision. 84% dental professionals interviewed suggested ban on the dental mercury amalgam use immediately. In response to the question if non-mercury based alternatives material be used for pregnant women and children, the overwhelming response (97%) was Yes and only 3% No.

Part 2 – Survey – Private Dental Clinics  –  Rawalpindi

Follow up to Peshawar survey briefly reported earlier, “Private Dental Clinics,” were visited in Rawalpindi from June 29 to July 1st 2015 and carried a Questionnaire based survey and gathered opinion regarding mercury dental amalgam use in dentistry. Most of the dental clinics visited were along Saidpur Road (48%), in/around commercial/markets areas and other localities in Rawalpindi. Only qualified medical graduate dental doctors in-charge of the private clinics were interviewed and through questions, mercury dental amalgam use related issued were raised. Among the respondents 24% were females. Mercury dental amalgam is still in use at 60% of the clinics visited. 72% respondents view was that the present syllabus/curriculum offered at dental teaching institutions, lacked information regarding occupational health & safety, mercury contaminated waste management, non-mercury based alternatives material and supported the present curriculum review & revision. 60% dental professionals interviewed suggested banning the dental mercury amalgam use immediately. In response to the question if non-mercury based alternatives material be used for pregnant women and children, 64% response was Yes and 36% No.
Hard copies of published Urdu and English articles on dental mercury amalgam use, based on earlier research carried out at SDPI were also shared with all the dental professionals interviewed (detailed report in preparation).

Survey work at private dental clinics in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) is in progress. 10 clinics and dentistry wards at two hospitals in Gilgit & Hunza have already been visited.

Part 1 – Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

SDPI two-member team (Waqar Ali & MAK) visited “Private Dental Clinics,” in Peshawar from June 15 – 17, 2015 and carried a Questionnaire based survey and gathered opinion regarding mercury dental amalgam use in dentistry. Dental Clinics Sites visited were Khyber Bazar, Dabgari Garden (Peshawar City), Saddar Bazar (Cantonment area), Nothia Qadeem, Qayyum stadium, University road, University Town, BISE Bazar and Hayyatabad. Only qualified medical graduate dental doctors in-charge of the private clinics were interviewed and through questions, mercury dental amalgam use related issued were raised. Among the respondents 23% were females. Mercury dental amalgam is still in use at 58% of the clinics visited. 61% respondents view was that the present syllabus/curriculum offered at dental teaching insttutions, lacked information regarding occupational health & safety, mercury contaminated waste management, non-mercury based alternatives material and supported the present curriculum review & revision. 61% dental professionals interviewed suggested banning the dental mercury amalgam use immediately. In response to the question if non-mercury based alternatives material be used for pregnant women and children, 46% response was Yes, 37% No and 17% were un-decided.

Hard copies of published Urdu and English articles on dental mercury amalgam use, based on earlier research carried out at SDPI were also shared with all the dental professionals interviewed (detailed report in preparation).

Survey work at private dental clinics in Islamabad and Rawalpindi is in progress.

Contact: Dr. Mahmood A. Khwaja, khwaja@sdpi.org

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For More Information, Contact the Following Person:


Mahmood A. Khwaja

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